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The world was truly blessed when James Victor Scott was born in
Cleveland, Ohio on July 17th, 1925. After 81
years, Jimmy is still performing around the world to thousands of fans. Married
New Years Eve 2003 to Jean McCarthy,
the two of them set off on a European tour, with stops in London, Istanbul, Paris,
Austria, Monaco, Milano. Jimmy Scott has a metallic vocal timbre which is
as disquieting and unmistakeable as Billie Holiday's; and a slender body
which reminds that of a teenager, indelible memory of a rare hormonal disorder –
the Kellmann syndrome – which was never properly taken care of in his youth.
Jimmy Scott has been a cult artist, almost a Myth during the years in
which he could work in the way which mostly suited him – that is – all around the
States in the immense ballrooms and in the legendary concert halls with
Lionel
Hampton in the fourties and with Ray Charles in the sixties.
Then Jimmy Scott suddenly disappeared from view, and would probably have
most unfortunately remained in this situation if a few years ago Lou Reed
at first and then David Byrne and David Lynch hadn't rediscovered
him. His last album, "Holding Back The Years",
includes some of the most beautiful rock evergreens of all times: "Jealous
Guy" by John Lennon, "Slave to Love"
by Brian Ferry, "Holding Back The Yars" by Mick
Hucknall and "Nothing Compares 2U" by Prince.
 Ray
Charles describes Jimmy's singing, "This man is all about feeling. He defined
what 'soul' is all about in singing long before anyone was using that word!"
Friend and fellow musician Lou Reed about Jimmy: "I first met
Jimmy Scott through the remarkable songwriter Doc Pomus. I'd heard about him for
many years. At the gathering after Doc's passing Jimmy sang. He has the voice of
an angel and can break your heart. He did that day and many others.I've heard and
even sung with Jimmy many times since then. Here is the singer's singer if labels
mean any thing. Listening to Jimmy is like having a performing heart. The experience
of life and the art of expression sing through Jimmy and make us partners in his
incredible passion. I love him and I never want to say goodbye. When the song stops
with Jimmy's last note we're back in the world as it was. Not quite so pretty, not
quite so passionate. And we can only wait for Jimmy to sing again and take us that
little bit higher."
 The
late Blues Singer and Songwriter Doc Pomus, Jimmy's dear friend and champion:
"Jimmy Scott can touch you in your deepest parts and even find spots that you
never know you had. He sings the slow notes slower than anyone else and he has a
way of bending notes that is uncanny. It's like he is trying to find out how much
he can control and try a note without messing up his perfect pitch. He sings behind
the beat further than anyone else ever could and every time I'm certain that he
finally gets too far back, he returns somehow. His meter is always impeccable.
He has a wide vibrato and the combination of his timing, pitch, and soft
sweet sound gives every song a dream-like, love fantasy quality. No one ever sings
or sounds like him."
The Band
The Jazz Expressions, are the high-octane bop quartet that's toured worldwide
backing legendary singer, Little Jimmy Scott. With Jimmy's blessing, these
musical road warriors are charting new terrain with their recent release,
On the Road, an impressive collections of original
compositions that range from swing, to Latin even funk.
 Lineup
of the band: Aaron Graves (piano), Dwayne Broadnax (drums), Talib
Kibwe (sax and flute), Hillard Greene (double bass).
"I can't say enough about the Jazz expressions. It would be hard to find more
committed or more brilliant musicians. Their improvisations and progressive unions
are flawless. For anyone who appreciates top-notch jazz symmetry, it doesn't get
much better." - John Hoglund/Backstage
 The
Jazz Expressions have been the back-up band for Jimmy Scott for fifteen
years with Hilliard (Hill) Greene as Musical Director since
1994.
The concert
The Jazz Expressions, Jimmy Scott's back up band are on stage
and they are opening the concert with a bewitching instrumental piece from their
album "On The Road". Mr. Talib Kibwe's mellow voice on sax is truly
captivating and Mr. Aaron Graves gives us a tasteful proof of his brilliant
piano playing. The whole band is very well balanced and a great pleasure to listen
to. Dwayne Broadnax at the drums and Hilliard Greene at the bass give a perfect
rhythmical pulse to the band, and the interplay between all of them is fluent and
flawless.
 Jimmy
Scott is then introduced to the audience by Mr. T.K. Blue, and leaves
his wheel chair to climb onto stage, helped by his wife and by Mr. Aaron Graves.
We can perceive the whole band's attitude in Mr. Scott's regards is filled
with thoughtfulness and great respect.
Jimmy Scott, elegant in his movements and in his smile starts his evening
with his first song. His unique voice reaches down to the very depths of our soul
because he's so intense. His phrasing is very personal, and unmistakeable. Mr
Scott is offering his experience and his music very generously. "All
The Way", "Embraceable You" (G. Gershwin)
and "Pennies From Heaven" are among the songs
Mr. Scott interpreted for us during the first set. The Jazz Expressions
played "A Single Tear of Remembrance" (T.K.Blue),
a piece which highlights the mellowness and warmness of Mr. T.K. Blue's melodious
playing on flute. The piece is a poem in music, and all the instrumentalists sound
great.
At the end of the set, Jimmy Scott is surrounded by fans who wish
to have the chance to have his autograph on one of his albums or on slits of paper.
Jimmy Scott smiles and welcomes everybody with gentleness and kindness.
I feel very lucky I had the opportunity of meeting Mr. Jimmy Scott
and to see him on stage; he is one of my heroes, and I always loved his singing.
To shake hands with him has been a true honour for me. Many thanks to Jimmy Scott
for blessing us with his unique voice and unique soul once again!
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Publishing Date: 19/11/2006
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